Ask About Islam (Q&A Session)

Session Guest

Waleed Ahmed Najmeddine is a Canadian born Muslim and public school administrator. He is an active member of the Muslim community and enjoys educating Muslims and non-Muslims about Islam. He currently holds a Master of Education degree in leadership and school improvement.

Friday, Apr. 28, 2017 | 04:00 - 06:00 Makkah | 01:00 - 03:00 GMT

Session Status

Session is over.

Asalamu Alaikum Brothers & Sisters,

Join us as Brother Waleed Ahmed Najmeddine answers your question about Islam. Brother Waleed will be available live to reply to general questions about Islam, including but not limited to interfaith issues, misconceptions, and misinterpretations of Islamic concepts.

Our Live Session will be Saturday, April 28, 2017, at 4:00 -6:00 AM Makkah/

Can’t make it to the session? Please do not hesitate to send us your questions at the following email address: aai@aboutislam.net

What does fasting entail for Muslims? For some Christians it means only having water or liquids for a day or two or even longer. For the Catholics I think it just mean you can’t have snacks. Is this what it is like for the Muslim faith?

Thank you for your question.

Actually, the month of fasting in Islam, Ramadan, is fast approaching (fast…get it…?), so your question is very timely. As you have mentioned, fasting is part of Islam just like it is part of Christianity, Judaism, and other faiths. We believe that the manner of fasting in Islam is done according to the practices of Muhammad, but also closest to the practices of all prophets who came before him, peace be upon them all.

There is a great deal of information and guidance about this way of fasting than one would find in other faiths. The Qu’ran says:

{O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may (learn) self-restraint; (Fasting) for a fixed number of days; but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the prescribed number (should be made up) from days later. For those who can do it (but with hardship) is a ransom, the feeding of one that is indigent. But he that will give more of his own free-will―it is better for him, and it is better for you that you fast, if you only knew. Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an as a guide to mankind and clear (Signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spend it in fasting, but if anyone is ill, or on a journey, the prescribed period (should be made up) by days later. God intends every facility for you; He does not want to put you to difficulties. (He wants you) to complete the prescribed period, and to glorify Him in that He has guided you; and perchance you shall be grateful.} (Qur’an 2:183-185)

In general, fasting must start with the intention of following God’s commands and to please Him alone. As with any good deed, we must do our best to perform it with pure intentions of seeking His Pleasure and Mercy, not for show or other worldly gains.

The fast of Ramadan begins at dawn when the sky begins to change from the black of night, to the first shades of blue. The first prayer of the day is the dawn prayer, so if one intends to fast that day, he/she should get up before the dawn and finish eating before the time of the call to prayer. After that, no food or drink, or sexual intercourse is allowed until the sun sets at the end of the day.

At that time the fast is officially over, and one may return to the regular habits of eating, drinking, etc. until the next morning. If one eats, drinks, or engages in sexual intercourse during daylight hours in Ramadan then their fast is officially broken, and they must repeat the fasting from the beginning another day outside of Ramadan.

If this happens out of sincere forgetfulness, then this does not break the fast and the person should return to refraining from eating, drinking, etc until sunset. God does not hold us to account for things we were unaware of. So unlike the practices of those of other faiths, there is no snacking, liquids, etc. allowed.

There are, however, those who would like to fast, but due to illness, or the hardships of travel, are unable to do so at that particular time. If one is suffering from an illness that requires ingesting medicines regularly throughout the day, or who may put themselves in danger by not eating or drinking, such as diabetics or the elderly, then they are able to compensate for this by feeding a needy person each day they were required to miss the fast.

Ladies who are menstruating are not allowed to fast until their period is done, but they are able to make up the missed days at any time before the beginning of the next Ramadan. Likewise any women who are pregnant, or nursing their baby, and fear they may harm themselves or their child by fasting, are allowed to break their fast, but make up the missed days later on.

So as God says in the above verses, He does not want to put us into difficulties, but fasting has many, many spiritual and physical benefits, so we must do our best to fulfill our duties to fast as He commands.

One can look at the research of scientists and find many benefits to fasting as well. I hope this has been helpful to you and made the matter more clear. Please keep in touch with any questions or comments you may have.

I know that your God is called Allah, but what is your God? I guess the better question would be: who is your God?

Thank you for your question.

The concept of God in Islam is greatly misunderstood among non-Muslims. The reason for this is partly because some people assume that following a different religion means following a different god. Unfortunately, there are some among non-Muslims who know very well the truth about Islam and the nature of Muslims, but they lie and mislead others to keep them from seeing the beauty and truth in Islam.

The God of Islam is the God of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, David, Jesus, and finally Muhammad, peace and blessings of God be upon them all, and upon all those who follow in their footsteps until the Day of Judgment. Islam teaches us to invite those of other faiths to what we agree upon, and to avoid disputes as much as possible, because we worship the same God:

{And dispute not with the People of the Book (i.e. Torah, Bible), except with means better (than mere disputation) unless it be with those of them who inflict wrong (and injury): Instead say, “We believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; Our God and your God is one; and it is to Him we bow (in Islam).} (Qur’an 29:46)

To put it plainly, “Allah” is the Arabic word for God. It comes from “al ilah” which means “the one and only God”. The word “Allah” is used by Arab Muslims, Arab Christians, Arab Jews, and Arabic speaking members of other faiths that believe in Him. In Islam, Allah is known by His many signs in the universe and He is known by His noble qualities. Ninety-nine different names, or attributes are mentioned in the Qur’an, many of them in the following verses:

{Allah is He, other than whom there is no god; Who knows (all things) both secret and open; He is Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Allah is He, other than whom there is no god; The Sovereign, The Holy One, The Source of Peace (and Perfection). The Guardian of Faith, The Preserver of Safety, The Exalted in Might, The Irresistible, The Supreme: Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him. He is Allah The Creator, The Evolver, The Bestower of Forms (or Colors). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, declare His Praises and Glory: and He is The Exalted in Might, The Wise.} (Qur’an 59:22-24)

Many Muslims, myself included, prefer to use the word “God” in English when discussing religion with non-Muslims. This is generally done for the sake of avoiding confusion with those who are unaware or learning about Islam. We use the word “Allah” with Muslims, obviously because we are all on the same page, so to speak. Some Muslims prefer to use the word “Allah” in all their discussions regardless of their audience, out of a strong sense of faith and using the most beautiful of God’s names, as He deserves.

I hope this has clarified things for you. Please contact Ask About Islam with any other questions you may have.

Do Muslims believe in the "evil eye" , that is, someone's ability to cast an evil spell on an unsuspecting person? My family is from Sicily..many strongly believe in the "malocchio"...evil eye. I believe evil spirits exist and I have seen people perform rituals to bring bad luck to people. I am sure God/Allah is greater than evil, but I still fear these people.

Hello Nancy,

Thank you for your question. It deals with something that not many people know about, but truly can cause people problems if they remain unaware. For certain, evil exists. God is the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, and The Creator of everything in them, good and evil.

Black magic through use of the evil eye, curses, and other practices can have a negative effect on people, but so can merely harboring envy or ill will towards others. Very often these things occur without us knowing that we are harming others with our envious feelings.

As believers, we continuously purify our hearts, minds, and souls through performing our daily prayers, for ourselves and for others. We also purify our wealth by giving the poor and the needy their due through obligatory charity called Zakah.

We purify our bodies through fasting in the month of Ramadan and other voluntary fasts throughout the year. Those who seek purity and closeness to God, find protection in Him from all evils whether intended or unintended. Those who are far from God in their lives are those who are most susceptible to the envy and ill will of magicians and evil doers because they have largely ignored God’s commands, and thereby given up the opportunity to receive His Protection from the evils of this world. God has declared that He is their Protector:

{God is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith, their patrons are the evil ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (Forever).} (Qur’an 2:257)

Before creating Adam and Eve, peace be upon them, God created Iblis as a member of a group of beings called the Jinn. They were created from the flame of fire. And like human beings, Jinn have the free will to obey or disobey God’s command.

Iblis chose to disobey God when He commanded him to bow before Adam, peace be upon him. For his refusal and pride, Iblis was condemned to the Hellfire, but was given a respite until the Day of Judgment. Iblis then swore that he would mislead Adam and all of his descendants, and take us all to the Hellfire with him.

Iblis acknowledged, however, that he would have no power over those whom God has guided and protected:

{(Iblis) said: “O my Lord! because You have put me in the wrong, I will make (evil) fair-seeming to them on the earth, and I will put them all in the wrong – Except Your servants among them, sincere and purified (by your grace).” (God) said: “This (Way of My sincere servants) is indeed a Way that leads straight to Me. For over My servants no authority shall you have, except such as put themselves in the wrong and follow you.} (Qur’an 15:39-42)

Black magic involves using the powers of evil Jinn to perform tasks such as possessing the bodies of people to make them ill in body or mind, speaking to them from the bodies of animals, rocks, trees, etc., taking on the appearance of deceased loved ones, among others.

These “magicians” attempt to fool people into thinking they have special powers, whereas he/she has none. These Jinn who are called upon by the magician are under no obligation to obey anyone, whether they are a Jinn or a human being, and will often fool the magician themselves without his/her knowledge.

So any of those Jinn or human beings who choose to follow the way of Iblis, or choose to learn and practice black magic and other satanic rituals, their destination will be the Hell fire. Those, however, who choose the Way of God, follow his commands and seek his guidance and forgiveness, their destination will be Paradise and protection from the evil of those who practice envy.

Recitation of the Holy Qur’an is itself a protection from the plots of evil-doers. Some verses have been specifically identified by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, as being particularly effective in warding off evil. Some of these are Quran 2:55, Chapter 113, and Chapter 114. Please find them in About Islam’s online Quran.